Short hair styling tool that includes a heat resistant safety mechanism to obstruct burns

ABSTRACT

A hair styling device, such as a curling iron, includes a heat resistant lower section which provides users who wish to style their hair in-home and without a hair stylist present less chance of the likelihood of critical or significant burns. The curling iron protects the integrity of the skin and enables the consumer to use a device that is safe and simple to use. The curling iron has a heat resistant lower casing that runs the length of the base of the barrel in a single, layered segment. The safety mechanism includes a lower casing made of heat resistant material such as a heat resistant plastic or other heat resistant material. The lower casing can frame a layer of heat resistant material, such as, but not limited to silicone. The lower casing runs from the handle to a heat resistant tip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/816,874, filed Apr. 29, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair curling irons and styling tools and, more particularly, to a short hair styling tool that includes a heat resistant safety mechanism to obstruct burns to the skin and scalp.

Curling irons use a standard, more or less rounded rod-like cylindrical, electrically heated barrel to style hair. A clamp/lever is mounted to the curved surface of the barrel in front of the handle. The handle has a terminal end that connects to an electrical supply cord and has an on and off switch, indicator light and temperature control. The user clamps the hair against the heated barrel using the lever to position the hair against the heated barrel. This way, the user reels the hair against the barrel to create the desired shape to the hair.

The heated curling iron is intended to be used by at-home users and also professional users to curl and style short hair. When styling short hair with conventional heated curling irons, especially when attempting this task without the assistance of a hair stylist, a user can easily be burned. This is especially true when working around the ears, behind the ears and right above the neck. A hair stylist will routinely insert a comb to shield the skin of the ears and neck by placing the comb as a barrier under the hot electric curling iron, thus avoiding burns. This technique, however, is almost impossible to perform without assistance.

Some conventional curling irons, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,573, requires a shield that rotates around the perimeter of the heated component. The shield may be withdrawn inside the handle by way of a knob on the handle and the knob on the handle is also used to lock the shield in position. The manipulations of the knob render this awkward to use.

The hair curling iron described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,249 requires non-heat conducting ribs to be mounted on the surface of the barrel, preventing the heated barrel from coming in contact with the skin. However, the non-heat conducting ribs prevent the heated barrel from coming sufficiently close to the hair root area right above the scalp that often requires smoothing, straightening or touching up with the curling iron for a smooth finished appearance of the hair style.

Other conventional styling tools, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,234,952 and 1,737,765, relate to accessory or attachment items used to protect the skin and scalp.

As can be seen, there is a need for a curling iron that obstructs burns, even when used without assistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hair styling tool comprises a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle; at least one heat resistant material running along a bottom portion of the heated barrel; and a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a hair styling tool comprises a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle; a lower barrel running along a length of a bottom portion of the heated barrel from the handle to a distal end of the heated barrel; a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel; a clamp handle extending at an angle from the clamp at one end thereof; a thumb tab disposed on an end of the clamp handle; a clamp handle heat resistant pad disposed along a top portion of the clamp handle, extending from the thumb tab toward the clamp; and a heat resistant strip disposed between the heated barrel and at least one heat resistant material.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a hair styling tool comprises a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle, the heated barrel formed in an arc shape; a heat resistant material running along a length of each end of the arc shape of the heated barrel from the handle to a distal end of the heated barrel; a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel; a clamp handle extending at an angle from the clamp at one end thereof; a thumb tab disposed on an end of the clamp handle; and a clamp handle heat resistant pad disposed along a top portion of the clamp handle, extending from the thumb tab toward the clamp.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair styling and shaping tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair styling and shaping tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hair styling and shaping tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the stand and stand sleeve of the hair styling and shaping tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hair styling and shaping tool according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hair styling and shaping tool according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair styling device, such as a curling iron, which includes a heat resistant lower section which provides users, who wish to style their hair in-home and without a hair stylist present, less chance of the likelihood of critical or significant burns. The curling iron protects the integrity of the skin and enables the consumer to use a device that is safe and simple to use. The curling iron has a heat resistant lower casing that runs the length of the base of the barrel in a single, layered segment. The safety mechanism includes a lower casing made of heat resistant material such as a heat resistant plastic or other heat resistant material. The lower casing can frame a layer of heat resistant material, such as, but not limited to silicone. The lower casing runs from the handle to a heat resistant tip.

The hair styling device includes a handle attached to an electrically heatable rounded rod like barrel. The device may use a conventional curling iron heating element or heating elements, temperature sensor or sensors, a temperature selection mechanism or switch, and a terminal end connected to an electrical cord for an electrical outlet. A clamp lever is used to clamp the hair down on the heated barrel to shape the hair as it slides under it. The hair styling device, which can be especially useful for short hair and in-home use, contains no unusual rotation while reeling the hair other than that used by classic curling irons in in-home use.

During use, the hair passes under the clamp lever and is locked against the upper hot rounded upper surface of the barrel and the cool heat resistant rounded lower length of the barrel immediately protects the skin as the user reaches to curl or straighten the hair around the ear, behind the ear or above the neck, for example. The heat resistant lower section affords safe curling and straightening in-home without much skill on the part of the user styling her/his hair. Further, the device of the present invention can include an improved handle and an improved clamp lever, as described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a hair styling tool 10 (also referred to as tool 10 or curling iron 10) may include an upper barrel 12 that can be heated via power provided through a power cord 40. A clamp 22 can be resiliently held against the upper barrel 12. A clamp handle 24 can extend from one end of the clamp 22 at an angle relative to thereto. The clamp handle 24 can be disposed so that when a user holds the tool 10 by the handle 32, the user can use their thumb, for example, to depress a thumb tab 30 formed on the clamp handle 24. A clamp handle heat resistant pad 26 can be disposed along an upper side of the clamp handle 24. The clamp handle heat resistant pad 26 can be made from various materials, such as heat resistant plastic, silicone, or the like. In some embodiments, one or more clamp pad screws 28 can pass through clamp pad screw holes 54 and into clamp handle screw holes 56 to retain the pad 26 in place on top of the clamp handle 24. The clamp handle heat resistant pad 26 can protect a user's skin from burns should it slip make contact with the users ear or side of the cheek during use of the tool 10.

The clamp 22 (conventionally spring loaded) is attached to the barrel at the opening where an angular wire stand 42 is conventionally held. The stand 42 can be housed in a sleeve 43 of heat resistant or non-heat conductive material. Of course, other means known in the art may be used to resiliently hold the clamp 22 against the upper barrel 12.

The handle 32 can include a handle grip 34 designed and shaped to help provide a secure and ergonomic grip on the tool 10 with the user's hand. A power indicator light 36 can be disposed adjacent the handle 32. The handle grip 34 can be formed in a soft, squeezable comfort grip, for example. Additionally, a power switch 38 may be provided on the tool 10 to turn the tool 10 on and off. In some embodiments, a timer or motion sensor can be provided to turn the tool 10 off after a predetermined period of non-use or non-movement.

A lower barrel 16 can attach to the upper barrel 12 using various mechanisms. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, barrel screws 58 can pass through lower barrel screw holes 48, through heat resistant strip screw holes 50, and into screw holes 52 in the upper barrel 12. The lower barrel 16 can be formed from a highly heat resistant material. This heat resistant material for the lower barrel 16 can be, for example, a heat resistant plastic. The lower barrel 16 is designed to be retained at a significantly lower temperature as compared to the upper barrel 12 during use of the tool 10. Such lower temperature for the lower barrel 16 helps prevent or eliminate burns from direct contact with the hot upper barrel, which is manufactured typically of metal or other heat conducting material.

To further reduce the surface temperature of the lower barrel 16, the lower barrel 16 may connect to the upper barrel 12 with a space disposed there between. A heat resistant strip 14 can be disposed in this space. The heat resistant strip 14 can be made from various materials, such as silicone or the like.

A cool tip 18 can be disposed at the end of the upper and lower barrel 12, 16. The cool tip 18 can vary in length and be attached to the end in various manners, such as with a tip screw 20 inserted through a tip screw hole 44 in the tip 18.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a barrel 60 can be shaped in a convex arc shape with heat resistant strips 62 attached to each end of the arc. An arc-shaped tip 64 can be placed at the end of the barren with, for example, tip screws 66. The heat resistant strips 62 can prevent burns by preventing direct skin contact with the heated barrel 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, in another alternate embodiment of the present invention, a heated upper barrel 68 may be shaped in a C-shape. A lower barrel 72 can be disposed into the open end of the C-shaped upper barrel 68 so that the lower barrel 72 extends lower than the ends of the upper barrel 68, thereby providing a cooler lower barrel 72 that contacts the skin without burning during use of the tool 10. A heat strip 70 can be disposed inside the opening of the C-shaped upper barrel 68, sandwiched between the upper barrel 68 and the lower barrel 72. A tip 74 can be shaped to fit on the end of the upper and lower barrels 68, 72 and may be held in place with, for example, a tip screw 76.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that adjustments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair styling tool comprising: a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle; at least one heat resistant material running along a bottom portion of the heated barrel; a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel; and a heat resistant pad on a portion of the clamp that obstructs burns to the user.
 2. The hair styling tool of claim 1, further comprising: a clamp handle extending at an angle from the clamp at one end thereof, wherein the heat resistant pad is disposed along a top portion of the clamp handle, extending from a thumb tab toward the clamp.
 3. The hair styling tool of claim 1, further comprising a heat resistant strip disposed between the heated barrel and the at least one heat resistant material.
 4. The hair styling tool of claim 3, wherein at least one heat resistant material forms a lower barrel of the hair styling tool.
 5. The hair styling tool of claim 4, wherein the heated barrel is formed in a semi-circular shape and the lower barrel is formed in a C-shape housing the heat resistant strip therein.
 6. The hair styling tool of claim 4, wherein the heated barrel is formed in a C-shape, housing the heat resistant strip therein.
 7. The hair styling tool of claim 1, wherein the heated barrel is formed as a convex arc and the at least one heat resistant material runs along each end of the convex arc.
 8. The hair styling tool of claim 1, further comprising a tip at a distal end of the heated barrel, wherein the heat resistant material runs along the heated barrel from the handle to the tip.
 9. A hair styling tool comprising: a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle; a lower barrel running along a length of a bottom portion of the heated barrel from the handle to a distal end of the heated barrel; a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel; a clamp handle extending at an angle from the clamp at one end thereof; a clamp handle heat resistant pad disposed along a top portion of the clamp handle, extending from a thumb tab toward the clamp; and a heat resistant strip disposed between the heated barrel and the lower barrel.
 10. A hair styling tool comprising: a handle; a heated barrel extending from the handle, the heated barrel formed in an arc shape; a heat resistant material running along a length of each end of the arc shape of the heated barrel from the handle to a distal end of the heated barrel; a clamp resiliently disposed against and pivotably movable away from a top portion of the heated barrel; a clamp handle extending at an angle from the clamp at one end thereof; and a clamp handle heat resistant pad disposed along a top portion of the clamp handle, extending from the thumb tab toward the clamp. 